Awning



C. TRADELIUS Oct. 6, 1964 AWNING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1962 INVENTOR. 72A 0 :4 /d3 Oct, 6, 1964 c. TRADELIUS 3,151,654

AWNING Filed Dec. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (22 7&4054 x05 Oct. 6, 1964 c. TRADELIUS 3,151,664

AWNING Filed Dec. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 6, 1964 c. TRADELIUS 3,151,664

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Filed D80. 3, 1962 4" Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 34e4 7 5405;

United States Patent 3,151,664 AWNING Carl Tradelius, New York, N.Y., assignor to Disa Corporation, New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,635 4 Claims. (Cl. 166-72) This invention relates to awnings and more particularly to collapsible and adjustable awnings of the type that may be sold in kit form.

Various types of awnings used in conjunction with windows, doors, and the like for houses are sold by hardware stores, garden supply centers, department stores and other like establishments so as to enable a home owner to install awnings on his home on a do it yourself basis. However, the prior art forms of these types of awnings are quite bulky and therefore the retailer normally has difficulty storing an adequate number of these awnings in various sizes and colors, thus resulting in an increase in the cost of the awnings of different shapes and sizes to enable the home owner to have an adequate choice to conform to taste and for proper installation.

Furthermore, the prior art awnings have usually been of rigid non-adjustable construction requiring a fixed installation so that the awnings provide a relatively large frontal surface against which force of the wind is applied during storms and high winds, thus making these awnings subject to being torn, ripped, or broken loose from their attachments during periods of inclement weather.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a kit for an awning of a construction wherein the awning is adjustable and may be readily secured so as to provide a minimum frontal surface when wind, storms, high winds, and like inclement weather are expected.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an awning kit wherein the hardware is separately provided from the sheet material and the hardware is adjustable for use in mounting various sizes of awnings on windows of various dimensions, and in which various shapes and styles of sheet material may be used in connection therewith and mounted thereon in a convenient manner. This will require that only a limited number of kits of hardware be maintained on hand by the retailer while the prospective buyer can have a wide choice of fabrics and styles to choose between for those parts of the awnings which are more visible and are dominant in appearance to the observer, while still occupying less space than prior art awnings.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of an adjustable awning which may be raised and lowered from one position to another with a minimum of effort and in which the means for raising and lowering the awning not only serves that purpose but also serves to reinforce the awning no matter what its position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an awning which may be lowered to serve as a blackout curtain or as an adjustable shutter if des red.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an awning which is constructed so as to eliminate necessity for lubrication of moving parts heretofore required in prior art adjustable awnings, and in which the pulleys used for adjusting the awning also serve the purpose of closing the ends of the mounting rods of the awnings to prevent deterioration of the awning and to provide an ornamental and attractive appearance for the hardware portions of the awning.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an awning construction that is simple, durable, highly attractive in appearance, capable of utilizing various readily available materials, which is 3,151,664 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 light in weight, and which is economical to manufacture, thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these awnings, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in an enlarged scale of the awning shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrat ing the mounting arrangement for the pulleys, brackets, bearings and mounting rod;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal plan view of a portion of the invention looking along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the mounting rod and associated elements;

F IG. 6 is a side elevational view of one form of locking arrangement for use in holding the awning in an adjusted position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 7-7 in FIG. 2, illustrating in particular the construction of the locking arrangement shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section detail view taken along the plane of line 83 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 99 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a modified mounting arrangement for the awning, showing the awning in solid lines in a partially raised position and showing the awning by phantom lines in a lowered position;

FIG. 11 is a view taken transverse of the pulley illustrating the maner in which the awning may be raised to a completely closed position;

FIG. 12 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating one arrangement by which the sheet of material is fitted on the mounting rod and fixed thereto;

FIG. 13 is a partial exploded perspective View illustrating an alternate form of attaching the sheet of material to the mounting rod;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 14-14 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 15-45 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating an alternate form of mounting arrangement for the bracket, bearing, locking rod and pulleys;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the arrangement of parts as Shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken along the plane of line 13-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate arrangement of mounting rod, bracket, bearing and pulley;

FIG. 20 is a sectional detail view illustrating the parts shown in FIG. 19 in an assembled position;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 2121 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate arrangement of the U-shaped member which mounts the lower portion of the awning;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the parts shown in FIG. 22 in an assembled condition; and

FIG. 24 is an exploded partial perspective view illustrating a further arrangement of parts which can be used for assembling the U-shaped member.

With continuing reference with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates a window or like opening in a home or other building having a window frame 12 on which the awning generally designated by reference nu: meral 14 and comprising the present invention is adapted to be installed. v v In the installation of the awning, a pair of mounting brackets 16 are employed, each of which are generally L-shaped having a flange 18 provided with holes through which screws or other fasteners 20 can extend for secur ing the bracket 16 to the window frame 12 or other suitable supporting structure. Each bracket 16 is provided with a rather large'bore 22 therethrough for reception of a bearing 24 formed of nylon or other suitable bearing material which does not need lubrication. This bearing is provided with a flange 26 which is adapted to bear against the outer surface 28 of the bracket 16 with the further c'ylindricalportion 30 of the bearing extending into the bore 22 and preferably force fitted therein. The bearings themselves are provided with bores 32 for reception of the outer ends 34 of a tubular mounting rod 36 which extends through and beyond the brackets 16 and which is rotatably mounted in the bearings 24.

Pulleys 40 are mounted on the ends 34 of the mounting rod 36. The pulleys 40 are provided with cavities or recesses 32 therein for reception of the ends 34. Set screws 44 extend into transverse bores 46 in the ends 34 for locking the pulleys 40 on the rod 36.

Cords 50 are connected to each pulley 40 by extending through recesses 54 formedin the inner surface 48 of the flange 58 and through passageway 56 in the flange 58. The cord may be wrapped around the pulley 40 in the depression 62 between the flanges 58 and 60. The end of the cord 50 is enlarged or knotted at 52 for holding the cord in place. The cord 50 is wrapped around the pulley 40when the pulley 40 is in a lower position and is unwound from the pulley upon pulling of the cord 52 to raise the awning as will be hereinafter explained.

The pulley 40 is so arranged on the mounting rod end 34 that the inner surface 48 thereof bears against the outer surface 38 of the respective bearing 24.'

The awning further includes a sheet of suitable material such as synthetic plastic, Woven plastics, canvas, fabrics, or the like which may be seamed by stitching or by heat sealing as desired. The upper end of the sheet 70 may be secured to the mounting rod 36 which serves as a'roller by means of set screws'72 which are threadedly engaged in suitable bores in the mounting rod 36 along the length thereof.

An alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 14 wherein the upper end of the sheet 70' of material is provided with a loop 76 formed by heat sealing or stitching a seam on the upper end of the sheet 70'. The mounting rod 36 is passed through the'loop 76 and the set screws 72' hold the sheet 70 in place.

. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the rod 36" may be provided with a longitudinal slot 78 therein communicating with the central hollow 82 of the mounting rod 36". The sheet 70" is provided with an enlargement 80 at the end thereof in the form of a seam or beading stitched or heat sealed thereto, and the sheet 70 is held in place by being slid longitudinally into the inner hollow 82. The enlarged end 80 is of such size that the bead 80 cannot fit through the slot 78 and thus the sheet 70" is locked in position. V

The awning 14 also includes a pair of channel-shaped brackets 90 to which a U-shaped member 92 is pivotally pinned at 94. The U-shaped member 92 may be made from one piece having flattened end portions 96 and having a pair of arms 98 together with a central connecting portion 100. The portion100 fits within a loop E formed in the sheet 70 whereby the central connecting portion 100 is loosely pivoted with respect to the sheet 70. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

in lieu of forming the U-shaped member 92 in one sheet 70.

tubular central connecting portion 160' leaving substantially L-shaped tubular arms 98' telescopically snugly secured thereto. This is accomplished by crimping the ends 102 of the central-connecting portion 100 and by reducing the end 104 of the arms 98' to a substantially rectangular shape "whereby there is provided a telescopic clamping action. It is to be noted that in lieu of stitches 108 used for securing piece 110 to the sheet 70 for forming the loop E, if the sheet 70 is formed of suitable plastic material, heat sealing may, be used and the piece 100 may be in integral formation with the As shown in FIG. 6, the cord 50 may be engaged with a locking device 120 secured by screws 122 or like fasteners to the frame 12.

The locking device 120 by itselfis of conventional construction andincludes a roller 124 and a pivoted cam 126 which may be spring pressedand may be arranged so as to hold the cord 50 in any selected and desired position when released. A plurality of eyes 128 may be secured on the frame 12 or on any other suitable location to form guides for the cord. The cord 50,; as shown in FIG. 8, maybe secured to the arms 98 by passing through bores 130 therein and by being provided with enlarged or knotted ends 132.

As can be readily ascertained, the awning may be raised by pulling upon the cord 50- to unwind the cord 7 50 from the respective pulley 50 rotating the pulley and hence the rod 36, and winding the sheet 70 on the rod 36. This will raise the awning from the lowered position that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2'to a raised position A as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2.'

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the brackets 90 may be mounted at about half the height of the window opening so that the awning may be completely lowered to serve as a shutter or blackout curtain and maybe raised to any suitable intermediate position or'com pletely raised to a position A. 'If it is desired to lower the awning, the 'cord is released and gravity will cause the awning to fall into a lower position, even to a completely lowered position C wherein the awning serves ,as a night blind, shutter or blackout curtain for the window. A median or bight portion of the coil line 50 may be wound around a cleat 136 which is secured to the frame 12 or any other suitable location and the slack of the bight portion of the cord is wrapped around the cleat so that the cord 50 may serve to reinforce and rigidity the assembly. Side panels may be provided'for the awning and may be of triangular shape and attached in any convenient manner to the awning as desired and may be assembled in a removable manner.

Considering the modification as shown in FIGS. 16

' through 18, it is to be noted that the bracket 216 is provided with a bore 222 therein for receptionof a bearing 224 having a flange 226 and a bore 232 as well as a cylindrical portion 230. The flange 226 is adapted to engage the outer surface 228 of the bracket 216.

" The end 234 of the rod 236 is provided with a depression 260 therein indicating the location of a detent 262 extending inwardly from the inner surface of the rod 236 and adapted to fit within a T-shaped groove. 266 in a projecting portion 268 of the pulley 240. The inner surface of the inner flange 270 of the pulley 240 is adapted to bear against the outer surface of the bearing 226 and the pulley 240 closes the open end 234 of the rod 236, thus reinforcing the assembly while preventing entrance of Water and rusting or deterioration of the assembly. 7

340 closes the open end 33% of the rod 336. The hearing 32 not only rotatably mounts the rod 336 but provides a thrust bearing for the pulley An alternate arrangement for the U-shaped member is shown in FIGS. 21 through 23 wherein each of the arms 29-3 are provided with flattened portions 296 and 294 both for engagement respectively with L-shaped mounting brackets 29% by means of pins and by means of snap type fasteners 297 which extend through bores 299 in the flattened ends 294 and engage within the hollow rod 3%?! to detachably lockingly hold the parts in an assembled condition. Another modification resides in the provision of a locking plug 397 with T-shaped slot 398 for cooperation with a detent pro vided in the inner surface of the rod 4 39. A depression 4292 is provided on rod 4% to identify the location of the detent so that the detent can be engaged within the T-shaped slot 39:: to lock the plug in place while permitting rotation of the arms 498 relative to the rod 4%.

As can be readily understood, the hardware can be packaged in various sizes for use with sheet 79 of suitable material adapted to be merchandised separately. The sheets i=3 as well as the hardware may be made of any suitable size and configuration as desired. Of course, if telescopic hardware is employed, the size is adjustable within certain limits and in the type of the awn ng shown, the plastic material used be heat sealed to form seams and may be easily ecured by even unskilled do it yourselfers in a convenient manner and attached to any suitable house or other building as desired.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed Without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An awning comprising a pair of mounting brackets for attachment of the awning adjacent an opening, said brackets having bores therethrough, bearings concentrically disposed with respect to said bores carried by said rackets, said bearings including flanges of considerably greater diameter than said bore, said flanges lying against said brackets, said bearings being force fitted into said bores, a tubular mounting rod rotatably mounted in said bearings, said rod having opposite open ends and extending through and beyond said brackets and bearings, pulleys fixed on said ends of said rod, said pulleys having closed outer walls and enlarged inner walls, said pulleys closing said open ends, said inner walls engaging said flanges so that said bearings not only journal said rod, but serve as thrust bearings for said pulleys, a U-shaped member pivotally mounted below said rod, a sheet of flexible material secured to said rod and said U-shaped member, and means connected to said pulleys for rotating said pulleys and hence said rod for raising and lowering said awnin 2. An awning comprising a pair of mounting brackets for attachment of the awning adjacent an opening, said brackets having bores therethrough, bearings concentrically disposed with respect to said bores carried by said brackets, said bearings including flanges of considerably greater diameter than said bore, sm'd flanges lying against said brackets, said bearings being force fitted into said bores, a tubulm mounting rod rotatably mounted in said bearings, said rod having opposite open ends and extending through and beyond said brackets and bearings, pulleys fixed on said ends of said rod, said pulleys having closed outer walls and enlarged inner Walls, said pulleys closing said open ends, said inner walls engaging said flanges so that said bearings not only journal said rod, but serve as thrust bearings for said pulleys, a U-shaped member pivotally mounted below said rod, a sheet of flexible material secured to said rod and sad U-shaped member, and means connected to said pulleys ror rotating said pulleys and hence said rod for raising and lowering said awning, said U-shaped member including L-shaped arms and a hollow bar, said arms being telescopically engaged with said hollow bar, and cords entrained about said pulleys and connected to said arms for reinforcement of said awning and for raising and lowering said awning.

3. An awning comprising a pair of mounting brackets for attachment of the awning adjacent an opening, said brackets having bores theretlnough, bearings concentrically disposed with respect to said bores carried by said brackets, said bearings including flanges of considerably greater diameter than said bore, said flanges lying against said brackets, said bearings being force fitted into said bores, a tubular moi lting rod rotatably mounted in said bearings, said rod having opposite open ends and extending through and beyond said brackets and bearings, pulleys fixed on said ends of said rod, said pulleys having closed outer walls and enlarged inner walls, said pulleys closing said open ends, said inner walls en aging said flanges so that said bearings not only journal said rod, but serve as thrust bearings for said pulleys, a U-shaped member pivotally mounted below said rod, a sheet of flexible material secured to said rod and said U-shaped member, and means connected to said pulleys for rotating said pulleys and hence said rod for raising and lowering said awning, said U-shaped member including L-shaped arms and a hollow bar, said arms being telescopically engaged with said hollow bar, and cords entrained about said pulleys and connected to said arms for reinforcement of said awning and for raising and lowering said awning, said rod having a longitudinal slot therein, said sheet of material having a reinforced thickened edge, said sheet of material extending through said slot with said thickened edge being dis posed within said rod locking said sheet of material to said rod, said pulleys closing said slot thereby preventing sliding removal of said sheet of material.

4. An awning comprising a pair of mounting brackets for attachment of the awning adjacent an opening, said brackets having bores therethrough, bearings concentrically disposed with respect to said bores carried by said brackets, said bearings including flanges of considerably greater diameter than said bore, said flanges lying against said brackets, said bearings being force fitted into said bores, a tubular mounting rod rotatably mounted in said bearings, said rod having opposite open ends and extending through and beyond said brackets and bearings, pulleys fixed on said ends of said rod, said pulleys having closed outer Walls, enlarged inner Walls and having projections extending into said ends of said rod closing said opening ends, and reinforcing said rod, said inner walls engaging said flanges so that said bearings not only journal said rod, but serve as thrust bearings for said pulleys, a U- shaped member pivotally mounted below said rod, a sheet of flexible material secured to said rod and said U-shaped member, said U-shaped member including L-shaped arms and a hollow bar, said arms being telescopically engaged with said hollow bar, and cords entrained about said pulleys and connected to said arms for reinforcing said awning and for raising and lowering said awning.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN AWNING COMPRISING A PAIR OF MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR ATTACHMENT OF THE AWNING ADJACENT AN OPENING, SAID BRACKETS HAVING BORES THERETHROUGH, BEARINGS CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BORES CARRIED BY SAID BRACKETS, SAID BEARINGS INCLUDING FLANGES OF CONSIDERABLY GREATER DIAMETER THAN SAID BORE, SAID FLANGES LYING AGAINST SAID BRACKETS, SAID BEARINGS BEING FORCE FITTED INTO SAID BORES, A TUBULAR MOUNTING ROD ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARINGS, SAID ROD HAVING OPPOSITE OPEN ENDS AND EXTENDING THROUGH AND BEYOND SAID BRACKETS AND BEARINGS, PULLEYS FIXED ON SAID ENDS OF SAID ROD, SAID PULLEYS HAVING CLOSED OUTER WALLS AND ENLARGED INNER WALLS, SAID PULLEYS CLOSING SAID OPEN ENDS, SAID INNER WALLS ENGAGING SAID FLANGES SO THAT SAID BEARINGS NOT ONLY JOURNAL SAID ROD, BUT SERVE AS THRUST BEARINGS FOR SAID PULLEYS, A U-SHAPED MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BELOW SAID ROD, A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID ROD AND SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PULLEYS FOR ROTATING SAID PULLEYS AND HENCE SAID ROD FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID AWNING. 